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KENTUCKY RACING BEGINS Outlook Bright for Most Successful Spring Meeting at Lexington-— Over Seven Hundred Horses on Hand — Particularly Attractive Inaugural Program i 9 LEXINGTON, Ky., April 27.— The Kentucky spring racing season of 1923 will be inaugurated tomorrow at the reorganized Kentucky Association track here under conditions most favorable for the sport. The interest, local and foreign, seems to be greater than formerly. There is no semblance of. tardiness, all seem eager to have a part in. the opening and start proceedings off with, "pep" and dash. Unlike former years there is a desire by-owners of the better class of horses to race them from the outset, as evidenced by the splendid inaugural card. It is one that wouid do credit for a midseason offering. This spring finds every available stable at the track occupied and adjacent stabling much in demand. Over seven hundred hoists of all degrees and in fine racing condition are registered with the secretary. They comprise representatives from the best Kentucky-owned stables, augmented by many easterrvowned ones, which will remain ia these parts at least until the Kentucky Derby is decided. In the wake of the eastern-owned horses have come numerous visiters from Maryland, New York and other eastern points. They will make an indefinite stay that stretches beyond the Kentucky Derby decision. PLENTY OF RIDI G MATERIAL. There will be no dirth of riders available for this meeting. The list includes several developments, promising to a high degiee, since last year. Such favorites as Garner, E. Pool and others will be riding steadily. Only one official vacancy will be noted. It is a major one in its way. This is due to the death of A. B. Dade, whose place aa starter will be filled by Messrs. Hamilton and , Snyder. They will alternate in the position throughout the Kentucky meetings. William Snyder will preside during the first half of starter will be filled by Messrs. Hamilton and officiate during the last half of the racing at all the tracks. This will afford opportunity for racegoers to compare the work of both of these promising starters. On the eve of the Lexington opening this little bustling city is congested with visiters. The principal hotels are swamped with reservations and already at the crowded stage. This is somewhat unusual. Formerly there was ample space to accommodate those i that attended the opening. It is an indication of the added interest in the racing this year. The numerous improvements at the historic track has converted it to a more modern stage and will be welcomed by former patrons. The terracing in the front stretch will enable thousands to secure an unobstructed view of the running of the different dashes. i ine weather prevails. A continuation of the present splendid weather will result in a record attendance for 1 j the opening. The management, under able I direction of Thomas C. Bradley, has arranged for every detail that will contribute to make inaugural day an auspicious one. The license committee functioned yesterday and submitted its labors to the Kentucky State Bacing Commission for approval, but no quorum of the commission members could be secured today, on account of the I absence of Messrs. Camden. Pollard and Hunter. There was no pressing matters outside of the license applications to come up. so the matter of defeiring the commission meeting does not entail any hardship. Messrs. T. C. i McDowell and Polk Laffoon, other members ! of the racing commission, were on hand to j I function. The track was lightning fast this morning when some speedy gallops were witnessed by a large and interesting crowd of work watchers. The gallops of the Derby eligibles in particular commanded much attention. Boys Believe Me. in the stable of E. R. Bradley, showed the best work at one mile when in the company of Bet Mosie he galloped the distance in 1:415. which was the best the son of North Star HI. has shown thus far this season. He outdistanced Bet Mosie all the way. Actuary and Park Hill were both sent one mile by Pete Coyne and both colts performed well. Actuary covered the route in 1 :t2,-,. while his stablemates time was 1 :l2-5. Calcutta was galloped a slow mile in 1:51%, while 15o McMillan was galloped three-eighths in 39%. Blossom Time displayed keen speed in going a half mile in 47*s and Hopeless went the same distance in flS% ami galloped out five-eighths in 1:02-"V,. Dick Thompson sent Bright Tomorrow three-eighths in 37+i and Betty Beall covered a half mile in 51. Nassau went a half mile in 49. Donges went out with Flax, a stablemate, and gal- Continued on twelfth page. KENTUCKY RACING BEGINS Continued from first page. loped a half mile in 52%, pulled up in the last eighth. The colors of Charles W. Leonard, well-known trotting horseman of Brookline, Mass., will be seen for the first time at any running race track during the Lexington meeting. Mr. Leonard, a recent recruit to racing, has five good looking two-year-olds here in the care of trainer Jack Howard, and one of them, which he secured at the Saratoga sales, is reported to have outworked any juvenile at the local track. He is a colt by Mont dOr and is credited with having worked three-eighths in 34. While schooling one of the Idle Hour Farms two-year-olds at the barrier this morning jockey Clyde Ponce was kicked in the foot by a horse, causing painful but not serious injury. Jockey J. Wallace arrived today from Louisville and reported that his contract employer, lUward Trotter, would not race any horses until the opening of the Churchill Downs meeting. Wallace will accept mounts at the Lexington meeting. Theodore 10. Mueller, owner of Wida, a Derby candidate, will come over from Loui-lsville for the inaugural days racing. He will be accompanied by Mrs. Mueller and Mr. and Mrs. T. Kramer. Colonel W. E. Applegate was among todays arrivals. Major T. C. McDowell, who has been on the ailing list for some time, was able to visit the track this morning. Will Perkins has at present what is probably the largest racing establishment ever quartered at the track of the Kentucky Association. He has fifty-six horses under his care, of which no less than thirty-eight are two-year-olds. Karl Pool will ride for Perkins during this meeting. Judge Charles F Price having declined to serve in the stand during the Lexington meeting his place as presiding steward will be taken by Sam C. Nuckols, the next senior steward. Colonel Matt J. Winn and the other directors of the Kentucky Jockey Club will be on hand for tomorrows opening. A large delegation is expected to come from Louisville and Cincinnati, while all of the adjacent cities will send their quotas for the opening day of the meeting. To dissolve a partnership Columbia Tenn will be offered for sale tomorrow in the paddock of the track. William Ryan, well-known New York and Chicago operator, was an arrival this morning to attend the opening and remain several days to witness the racing. Frederick Johnson, whose horses will race here this spring and also at Louisville during the Churchill Downs meeting, came over this morning accompanied, by Charles Quinn. M. J. McFarlan of Montreal, who races some good horses and is also breeding on a small scale, was among the comers from Canada. He will remain for some time. Track superintendent John Keegan has the course in superb condition and fast time should be the order in most of the dashes. Julius Reeder joined the office forces this morning, coming from Huntington, W. Va., where he acted as one of the racing officials. The crack Worthmore in the W. C. Worth-ington stable, has been thrown out of temporary training and has had the firing irons applied to his legs. E. R. Rrjdley is expected to return from New York this evening. He has named his crack Black Servant to start in the inaugural dash which brings to the barrier some of the fleetest short distance racers in these parts.
